Two more American Seafoods vessels arriving in Bellingham will be tested for COVID-19
Two more American Seafoods trawlers are arriving in Bellingham and crew members for both are being tested for COVID-19 as a precautionary measure.
The American Triumph has docked at Bellingham Cold Storage and the Northern Jaeger is expected to arrive in Bellingham Wednesday, June 3, according to a news release from the company.
American Seafoods also owns the American Dynasty, which had 86 crew members test positive for COVID-19 last week. To date, no one at Bellingham Cold Storage has tested positive for the virus, and the American Dynasty is currently docked in Seattle and its crew is under quarantine.
“We’re conducting these tests out of an abundance of caution,” American Seafoods CEO Mikel Durham said. “Protecting the health of our crew members and the communities where we operate is a top priority for us.”
On the Northern Jaeger, one crew member reported feeling ill on-board last week and was transported to the hospital where they have tested negative for COVID 19. The crew member is in the hospital recovering from their illness, according to the company.
Bellingham Cold Storage is relying on the various agencies to clear the vessels for docking, said Doug Thomas, president and CEO of the facility. Those agencies include Whatcom County Health Department, the U.S. Coast Guard and Whatcom Unified Command. Once the vessels receive full clearance, they are allowed to dock.
Thomas told The Bellingham Herald that fishing boats docking at Bellingham Cold Storage is infrequent this time of year; it is expected to increase later this summer as fisheries open up for the season.
He added that he and his team have focused on making sure the facility and its employees are virus-free.
“We are taking this extremely seriously,” Thomas said in a phone interview.
American Seafoods is based in Seattle and has a fleet of six vessels.
This story was originally published June 3, 2020 at 3:26 PM.
